Waterproof pocket



June 7, 1955 NELSON 2,709,815

WATERPROOF POCKET FiledJune 8, 1953 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR EDWIN L. NELSON ATTORNEY Unite States atent WATERPROOF POCKET Edwin L. Nelson, Bellingham, Wash.

Application June 8, 1953, Serial No. 360,145

3 Claims. (Cl. 2--247) This invention relates to a waterproof pocket for use on garments, and more particularly to a novel structure for waterproof pockets for bathing suits.

One object of the invention is to provide a pocket of waterproof material which may be readily applied to a garment. Another object is to provide a waterproof pocket in a garment such as a bathing suit, which may be easily closed to prevent the entry of water. A further object is to provide a waterproof pocket structure which is simple in construction and design, and which may be readily applied to a garment at the time of manufacture thereof, or may be subsequently applied to a pocket opening in a garment.

These and other objects are attained by my invention which will be understood from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a waterproof pocket structure in open position as applied to a garment;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 with the pocket shown in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the pocket structure as a unit for attachment to a garment.

Referring to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of my invention, the garment to which the pocket is attached is shown generally as 11. The pocket structure consists of a flat tubular body 12 made of waterproof material such as thin pliable rubber or synthetic plastic material with a closed end 13 and an open end 14. A flap and attachment member 15, which may be of cloth or similar sheeted pliable material but which is not necessarily waterproof, is attached to the backside of the body 12, this flap and attachment member being Wider than the width of the flat waterproof body, and being attachable to the body at a position intermediate the ends 13 and 14, with the portion of the flap member above the pocket line 16 being free and unattached to the body 12. The term pocket line designates the line of the slit opening of the garment 11 into which the pocket structure is inserted, the holding portion of the pocket being on the body side of the garment, and the open end portion of the pocket body and the upper unattached portion of the flap member 15 extending above the pocket line. The pocket may be fastened to the garment by stitching 17 between the garment 11 fabric and the edge of the attached portion of the flap 15. On the front surface of the pocket body adjacent the open end, but disposed a short distance away from the open end is provided a winding strip 18 which extends across the tubular pocket body 12 with the ends thereof protruding beyond the edges of the body. The winding strip 18 consists of a narrow flat strip of rigid or semirigid material, which may be metal, stiff synthetic plastic, wood, or the like, which is cemented or otherwise permanently attached to the surface of the pocket body.

In closing the pocket, the portion of the pocket body above the winding strip is folded tightly over the winding strip 18 and rolled thereover for one or two turns forming a tightly round roll as shown as 19 in Fig. 3. The upper part of the flap member 15 is then turned down over the roll and the flap removably fastened to the garment by fastening means 20, which may be snap fasteners, hooks or the like.

In my preferred structure the edges of the flap pocket body 12 adjacent the open end 14 are closed for a short distance inwardly from the tube edges as shown in detail in Fig. 4 as the edge seals 21. The closing of the edges at the open end of the pocket prevents the leakage of water in the capillary tube which may remain at the folded edge of the rubber-like pocket body, even when tightly rolled as in closing.

In Fig. 6 is shown in perspective, a structure for a rubber pocket as above described which may be prepared as a unit for installation in pockets or pocket slits which are already formed in garments such as bathing suits. The attachment portion of the flap member may be fastened to the garment, and the loose portion may be fastened down over the roll in any convenient manner, as for example by means of the snap fasteners 20 on the attachment portion.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent. The pocket protects the contents from getting wet during swimming or at other times, and it is readily opened and closed with assurance that water will not leak in through the rolled open end of the pocket structure.

I claim:

1. A waterproof pocket for a garment comprising a flattened tubular, pliable, waterproof body having an open end and a closed end; a flap member attached to said body intermediate the open and closed ends of said body, said flap member being wider than said body and also extending unattached over the open end portion of said body; a relatively narrow winding strip attached to the front side of said tubular body opposite said flap member, said winding strip being longer than the width of said body, and disposed adjacent said open end of said body; and means for securely and tightly holding said flap member to the attached portion of itself over the open end portion of said body which has been rolled up on said winding strip.

2. A waterproof pocket for a garment comprising a flat tubular body having an open end and a closed end, said body being formed of pliable waterproof sheet material; a flap member attached to said body intermediate the ends of said body, said flap member being wider than said body and also extending unattached over the open end portion of said body, a relatively narrow winding strip attached to the front side of said tubular body opposite said flap member, said winding strip being longer than the width of said body, and disposed adjacent said open end of said body; and means for securely and tightly holding said flap member to the attached portion of itself over the open end portion of said body which has been rolled up on said winding strip, said attached portion of said flap member being arranged for attachment of said pocket to a garment.

3. The pocket claimed in claim 2, in which the open end of the flat tubular body is partly closed at the two edges thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,077 Frantz Feb. 23, 1926 1,603,299 Stroeken Oct. 29, 1926 2,093,345 Wesolowski Sept. 14, 1937 2,513,575 Lombard July 4, 1950 2,521,047 Davis Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 460,341 Italy Nov. 20, 1950 

